Peanut Butter Crumb Bars

If I didn’t care at all about what people want to see me bake, I’d probably make nearly every recipe on this blog related to peanut butter somehow. It is my love, and I want to honor that. But, you know, it’s not all about me. I get that. So I’ve been trying to hold it down a little, until today.

Because, because, because. Ready? CRUMBS. On peanut butter bars!

If crumbs or peanut butter isn’t your thing, run away now. And if you don’t like curly hair, ditto. Wait, what?

Okay, true story. A few weeks ago, someone I know came up to me and told me about this great straightening product I could use for my hair. I listened politely, but inside I was thinking, “You have GOT to be kidding me.”

I know straight hair is in vogue. I think straight hair is really pretty. Occasionally, I get mine blown out, and then I don’t do it again for a while. You know why? People suddenly find me prettier. They tell me how good I look, and that I should do it all the time. Boy, do I get offended.

I AM A PROUD CURLY GIRL!!!

Whoops, didn’t mean to shout. But honestly, why do people assume that curly girls want to get rid of one of their most distinctive physical traits? Coincidentally, girls with curls often come from a background that isn’t mainstream American, so maybe there’s some other subtle shaming going on there.

Either way, I will not apologize for loving my hair the way it is. And I will also not apologize for loving peanut butter forever.

Crumbs are also high on my list, almost right up there with peanut butter. So imagine my shock when, mid-workout the other day, I thought of combining the two. Why had that never occurred to me before?!

The rest was simple. I used my favorite peanut butter cookie recipe for the base and my foolproof crumb topping. A lot of crumb toppings require cutting in cold butter, but my recipe uses melted butter and comes together in literally seconds. For this crumb, I put some peanut butter in along with the regular butter to make it even better!

Don’t apologize for who you are. If you love peanut butter, scream it from the rooftops. And if you are proud of your hair, wear it your way. Be you. Own it!

I fulfill many roles in life: wife, mother, teacher, everlasting learner.
This site is dedicated to one role that expresses my creativity in ways that I find consistently challenging and rewarding: baker.
Inventing new ways to enhance food, especially if that food involves chocolate or peanut butter (or both!), is a passion of mine. I look forward to sharing my ideas with you.

When I was little, my grandmother used to give me Kit Kats to eat when I went over for lunch. Even so, I was pretty surprised when I heard her tell someone that they were my favorite chocolate bar. Say what? Don’t you know me? It’s Reese’s PB cups, then, now, forever.

But my grandmother hated peanut butter. Wouldn’t even keep it in her house. So you can imagine what a disappointment I was. And I kept getting those Kit Kats.

Hold on to your hats, almond butter lovers. You are about to be seriously happy.

When almond butter first became a thing, I got really excited and ran out to buy some. And then, boom. Huge disappointment. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t peanut butter.

I think that was my problem. I was looking at almond butter through the lens of peanut butter and expecting something just like that. When I learned to step back and appreciate almond butter on its own, then it was so much more delicious. Plus, then I could open up all the baking doors and make those fun desserts happen!

Holidays have a way of sneaking up on a girl. July 4th, here you come!

On my list of favorite low-maintenance holidays, July 4th is up there. I eat my annual nitrate-free hot dog (once a year is just enough, really), drink a cocktail, and whip up some brownies. It’s the perfect meal!

I’ll never argue with a brownie in any form, but they’re at their best when giant chocolate chunks are nestled within. Oh, and when there’s a nice thick layer of glaze on top with sprinkles. Patriotic sprinkle bling, no less!

I’m a curly haired girl, too! It’s easier and more fun to let the curls “do their thing” then to spend an hour in front of the mirror ironing the curls away. Crumbs are my favorite part of muffins, breads, and cakes. Good call!!Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg recently posted…Root Beer Muffins

Holy moly, these bars look incredible! That crumb over the top has me swooning. Anyone who isn’t a fan of peanut butter is insane because it’s amazing!!Jen @ Baked by an Introvert recently posted…Crock Pot Chocolate Chip French Toast

Mir, peanut butter makes the world go round. . yes, I was one of those chubby kids who ate peanut butter by the spoonful when I got home from school (lash-key kid, with hardly any supervision but with my brother and sister) . . anyway. . I still love peanut butter as much as I did then, now. . but i must say almond butter is taking a close second place in my heart. and I have super straight hair and have been getting digital perms (although not getting another one and my last one is nearly all gone) to get curly hair!!! I love curly hair!!! and these crumb bars?! well, you know how I feel about crumbs. . love these bars yo!!! Happy weekend to you!!Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom recently posted…Spinach Apple and Avocado Smoothie

Yay for curly girls! I’m one too! 😀 The bars look amazing and just like you I can never have enough of peanut butter! I don’t understand how some people don’t like it! HOW!!?Manali @ CookWithManali recently posted…Strawberry Kulfi

I agree, straightening is kind of a pain anyways, much better to just love your curls! I love having curly hair, so much easier and faster when I just let it be curly! And these bars!!! Love them, more peanut butter is always a good idea! 🙂Stacey @ Bake.Eat.Repeat. recently posted…Baked Lemon Chicken

I’m not a curly girl, I’m a FRIZZY girl. So I totally do straighten my hair. BUT! I wish that there was a product I felt good about that helped me in embrace the .. . . frizz. That doesn’t sound right, lol! Okay, I don’t think I can embrace the frizz. But I can embrace these! They have me drooling!Lisa @ Wine & Glue recently posted…Garage Organization Tips and Printables

You’ve got mad props from this proud curly haired girl!!! I straighten mine every once in a while too, and get so many comments about it. Although most people say they miss my curls, so I guess that’s a good thing! And peanut butter all the time would be awesome…love these bars so much!!! And I’m loving the change in pictures 🙂Jocelyn @BruCrew Life recently posted…Raspberry Chocolate Chip Pull Apart Coffee Cake

I am a proud curly girl too! I totally get you, whenever I get mine straightened or blown out everyone always compliments me, which is flattering but mostly annoying. I usually just let it be. 🙂 So excited to make these!